SAFETY AND HEALTH

Fighting air pollution starts at home

It's February, and the house is closed up tight. Most of your time is spent indoors. In many cases, the old saying of "going outdoors to get some fresh air" is really pretty accurate.

There are many sources inside the home that create air pollution. While pollution from one source by itself may not pose a great risk, the effects of several sources over time may create health concerns. Effects from indoor pollution can range from respiratory problems and headaches to severe diseases.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor pollution is created from sources that release gases or particles into the air. These sources include building materials, asbestos insulation, wet or damp carpet, furnaces/fireplaces, and household cleaning products. The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant is emitted, and how hazardous those emissions are.

For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.

If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can build up to levels that can pose health problems. Many of today's homes are designed and constructed to minimize leakage of air into the home. Unless mechanical means of ventilation are used, these homes may have very polluted indoor air. Even homes that are considered leaky may not have much ventilation, under certain environmental conditions.

There are three basic strategies that can be used to improve air quality in the home. These are source control, ventilation improvements, and the use of air cleaners.

Source control involves the elimination of individual sources of pollution, or to reduce their emissions. In many cases, source control is a more cost-efficient and effective approach compared to increased ventilation or the use of air cleaners. Specific sources of pollution that can be controlled include radon, carbon monoxide, biological contaminants like bacteria, molds, animal dander, pollen and formaldehyde.

Another approach to lowering the concentrations of indoor air pollutants in your home is to increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. This can be done as easily as slightly opening windows or operating window or attic fans when weather permits. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors remove contaminants directly from the room where the fan is located, and also increases the outdoor air ventilation rate. These steps are especially important when involved in activities such as painting, paint stripping, or heating with kerosene heaters. Obviously, these measures will also lower energy efficiency within the home.

Advanced designs of new homes are starting to feature mechanical systems that bring outdoor air into the home. Some of these include energy-efficient heat recovery systems.

There are many types and sizes of air cleaners, ranging from relatively inexpensive to sophisticated whole house systems. Air cleaners remove mostly solid particles, and generally are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.

The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants, expressed as a percentage efficiency rate, and how much air it draws through the cleaning element, expressed in cubic feet per minute. A cleaner that has a high efficiency rate but has a low air circulation rate will not be effective, nor will a cleaner with a high volume of air movement, but a low cleaning efficiency.

When building a new home, many opportunities exist for preventing indoor air problems. Choose building materials and furnishings that will keep air pollution to a minimum. Use solid wood products wherever possible in floors, cabinetry, and wall surfaces. Install a moisture barrier prior to installing carpets on concrete floors in basements. Provide proper drainage and seal foundations to reduce moisture entering the home. Become familiar with mechanical ventilation systems and consider installing one. Ensure combustion appliances are properly vented and receive enough supply air.

For more information on indoor air quality, contact the Indoor Air Coordinator for Region 5 of U.S.E.PA. at (312) 886-6026.

Duane Friend is the Natural Resources Management Educator at the Springfield Extension Center. For more information contact him at Springfield Extension Center, P.O. Box 8199, Springfield, IL 62791-8199, telephone (217) 782-6515, or e-mail friend@uiuc.edu.

14 | ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING | www.icl.coop